Tradisi Cio Tao: Identitas Budaya Tionghoa di Tangerang

Abstract

Cio Tao is one of the cultural heritages of the Chinese Benteng community in Tangerang, associated with traditional wedding ceremonies and the intergenerational transmission of cultural values. This study aims to examine the history of the Cio Tao tradition in Tangerang, analyze the meanings embedded in its implementation, and describe the perceptions of the younger Chinese generation toward the tradition in modern life. The study employed a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation involving administrators of Boen Tek Bio Temple, Chinese community figures, younger members of the community, and representatives of the Tangerang City Culture and Tourism Office. The findings indicate that Cio Tao developed alongside the history of Chinese migration and the formation of the Chinese Benteng community, while adapting to the social context of Tangerang. The series of rituals, from pre-wedding preparations, prayers, hair-combing, tea ceremony, to closing prayers and family banquets, embodies respect for ancestors, filial devotion to parents, family harmony, responsibility, and togetherness. The younger generation considers Cio Tao relevant, although some aspects of its implementation may be simplified. Thus, Cio Tao functions as a space for transmitting and constructing Chinese cultural identity while continuously adapting to social change.